Circuit-closing appabatus



G. L. CARRUTHRS & J. S. HOLDERNESS.

CIRCUIT CLOSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAR.2.19I6`.

l I, l 93,5 1 0.. I IiI'fenI-ed Aug. 8, 1916.

515ML Q* AMM au Parana ortica.

GEORGE L. CARRUTHERS AND JAMES S. HOLDERNESS, 0F vPINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

CIRCUIT-CLOSING APPARATUS.

To all whom t may concern:

Be 1t known that we, GEORGE L. CARRUTH- Ens and JAMES S. IIoLDERNEss, citizens of ful Improvements in Circuit-Closingv Apparatus, of which the following is a speciication.

Our invention relates to coin. actuated means for closing a circuit, and toautomatically open the circuit, after it has been closed for a predetermined length of time.

An important objfect of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned ch'aracter, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and-reliable in operation.v

Cther objects and advantages of thefin- 2@ vention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in-which like numerals' are employed to designate like parts throughout the saine, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of apparatus embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, parts 'broken away, of an endless belt and' associated elements,

a0 and, Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 5 desiga nates an electric motor ofany well known or preferred construction, having an armature shaft 6. The numeral 7 designates a fly-wheel, carried by the armature shaft 6, and represents thev load. This fly-wheel, due

an to inertia, in-the. operation lof the motor,

will prevent thesudden stopping of fthe motor, whereby the motor-will'operate for -a short time afterits circuit is broken.

The motor is connected in a circuit includl at lng wires 8 and 9, as shown. Connected 1n the wire 9 is a source of current 10.

The coin controlled mechanlsm comprises a base 11, upon which arerigidly mounted upstanding posts 12. The upper ends of the te posts 12 are connected by horizontal strips 13- and these posts are connected by lower strips 14, as shown. Connected with one post 12 and insulated therefrom is astationary contact 15, having connection with tt the wirev 8. Thiscontact 15 isrigidly secured upon -a bracket 16. This post '12 is.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented aug. s, 1era.

Application med Marh 2, 191e.y serial No. 81,716.

provided with a horizontal pin or pivot element 17, upon Which is mounted to swing in a., vertical plane a movable Contact 18, to engage and disengage the stationary contact 15. This movable contact'is insulated from the pivot element 17. The upper end of this pivoted Contact carries adepending weight-arm 19, adapted to engage with a transverse stop member 20, when the contact 18 is in the lowered or opened position. The pivoted `contact 18 has connection with the wire\9, as shown. The arm 19`is heavier than the contact 18and automatically swings the same to the` open position. l

The numeral 21 designates a preferabl vertically arranged stationary coin chute, suitably connected with the upper horizontalistrips 13, and having its lower 4end arranged between pivoted coin chute sections 22 and 23.v The, coin chute secti0n'23 is rigidly attached tothe pivoted contact 18 -but is'thoroughly insulated therefrom. Thev f (zo-acting coin chute section 22, is pivoted to en'd of the arm 26 is a pitman 28, having pivotal connection with the lowerfend of a bell crank `lever 29, pivoted at 30. y As more clearly shown in Fig. 2, the outer end of the bellcrank lever 29 is preferably beveled or inclined,:as shown at 31, and is adapted to engage witha trip wedge or member 32, se-

curedl upon an endless belt 33. This endless belt is driven by a roll 34, secured to the armature shaft 6. Y

In operation, the coin is. deposited in the upper end of the coin chute 21 and moves downwardly by gravity and enters the coin chute sections 22 and 23. The Spring 25 lis suiiiciently stii to normally.' hold the coin chute section 22 against'movement yby the action of the coin, while the coin swings the coin chute section 23 outwardly, 'causing the .pivoted contactlS to engage the stationary contact 15. This closes a circuit to drive the -motor 5, current flowing in this closed circuit from one side of the ,source of current 10, a portion ,of the wire 9, through the motor 5, wire 8, stationaryv contact 15, pivoted able mechanism, such as mechanical dolls contact 18, and through the other portion of the wire 9 back to the opposite pole of the source of current. The apparatus is arranged to allow the motor vto operate for a predetermined period fordriving any suit arranged in a vending machineA or the like, while the invention is in no sense restricted to such use.' The rotation of the armature shaft 6 of the motor drives the endless belt 33, causing the wedge '32 to be advanced toward the bell crank lever 29. When the wedge 32 engages the`bell crank lever 29, it swings the same upon its pivot, causing. the pitman 28 to move to the right and swing the coin chute section 22to the right. This wheel 7 after the circuit is opened, will cause the motor to continue its operation for a sufficient length of time, whereby the wedge 32 will trip the lever 29 and pass therebeyoud. When this occurs, the spring 25 automatically returns the coin chute section 22 to its inner active position.

It is to be understood that the form of our inventionv herewith shown and described is to be taken as ,'a preferred example of theI same, and that various changes in the shape, s1'ze,`and arrangement of parts may be revsorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the sub- 'jjoined claim. l

Having thus described the invention, We claim: y

In apparatus of the character described, a circuit, a motor connected in the circuit, a frame, a contact device for opening and closing the circuit 'supported by said frame and comprising a stationary contact member supported by the'frame, a pivoted contact member having adjacent its Contact end a depending Weighted portion whereby it is 'normally held out ofcontact and having at its yopposite end a coin contacting member, a co-actingcoin contacting member pivoted near the first named coin contacting member, a coin chute delivering between the said coin contact members, motor operated means to automatically move the second named coin contacting member tothe outer position when the motor has operated for a predetermined time. f

Initestimony whereof 'we afx our signatures in presence of 'two Witnesses.

eEoRGE L. CARRUTHERS. JAMES. s., HoLDERNEss.

Witnesses:

WM. L. MATTHEWS, ALLIE M. DAVIS.. 

